Know your rights ·

A creditor is collecting after my discharge

General information for New Jersey, New York and Washington, DC · Last updated

Quick answer

Determine whether the debt was discharged and whether the contact concerns personal liability or a surviving lien.

Do now

Keep the discharge order, creditor notices, and contact records. Ask your bankruptcy lawyer or the court’s self-help resources about the proper enforcement process. Check whether the obligation was excepted from discharge.

Watch for

Discharge and case closure are different events. A valid lien or nondischargeable debt can require separate treatment; do not assume all post-discharge contact is unlawful.

Official sources

US Courts — Discharge in Bankruptcy, US Courts — Bankruptcy Glossary.

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